Mafia III’s perspective on racial tensions in the United States is something rarely seen in games. Accordingly, some reviewers have argued that the actual gameplay of Mafia III wasn’t nearly as innovative as the narrative. While I agree that Mafia III’s narrative takes more risks than the gameplay, the two function as…

Mafia III takes hours to really get going. Sometimes it’s a predictable, janky slog. Once it finds its groove, though, it’s an open-world crime game unlike any other. It’s a bold depiction of a difficult time and place—a portrait of New Orleans in the late 1960s, racism and ugliness included.

Mafia IIIhas some issues. Despite that, I’ve been enjoying my time with it. I really like losing myself in the sprawling, multifaceted city of New Bordeaux. The game’s navigation system does a great job of enabling that.

Mafia III is just hours away from launching, but it’s already in the hands of reviewers. Unfortunately, they’ve discovered that the PC version’s framerate is capped at 30 FPS. Now 2K’s dealing with one hell of an angry mob—and not the organized, suit-wearing kind.

Mafia III, due out later this year on consoles and PC, has a few interesting things going for it. It’s a crime story set in a fictionalized version of 1960s New Orleans. It has a black protagonist. Here’s a less obvious distinctive trait: its open world can be changed.